City News

Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center has donated $1,000 to support Mayor Allen Joines’ Childhood Obesity Initiative. The money will be used for community programs aimed at reducing obesity in children through proper nutrition, physical exercise and healthier lifestyles.

“Obesity is our community’s number one health concern because it leads to life-threatening conditions including diabetes and heart disease,” Joines said. “We are grateful for the support we are receiving for this program from community leaders including Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center and the Kate B. Reynolds Foundation.” Funding by community organizations has supported a number of projects across the community, such as the Garden of Healthy Living recently planted by fourth- and fifth-graders at Petree Elementary School.

Jeff Lindsay, the president of Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, said, “Promoting healthy lifestyles to help prevent disease is a key mission of our medical center. Through hands-on projects like the Petree community garden, children take home to their parents the lessons they have learned about good nutrition.”

For more information about the Mayor’s Childhood Obesity Initiative call Linda Barnes at 747-7372.